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Saint Paul, MN Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Residential exemption
≤500-gal tank, single-family, no permit
No-smoking buffer
25 feet from cylinders
Event permit fee
$140-$252 by cylinder count
Bulk tank permit
$224 first tank + $81 each additional
Penalty
Misdemeanor, per § 55.05

Summary

Saint Paul follows the Minnesota State Fire Code's operational-permit requirement for propane, but carves out an exemption for ordinary residential use: single-family homes with a tank of 500 gallons of water capacity or less never need a permit. Anyone using or storing LP-gas beyond that, including every temporary setup for an outdoor event, must get a DSI permit and pass an on-site inspection first.

(a)As required by and in compliance with the Minnesota State Fire Code, no person may utilize or store liquid petroleum gas without an operational permit.(1)A permit is not required for individual containers with a five hundred (500) gallon water capacity or less serving single family occupancies. ... (e)No smoking shall be allowed within twenty-five (25) feet of liquid petroleum gas cylinders.

Source: Saint Paul Legislative CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

09(b)-(c)). 09(e)). 09(g): $140 for the first ten cylinders or fraction thereof, $196 for eleven to twenty, and $252 for twenty-one or more. 10, $224 for the first tank plus $81 per additional tank, and $56 per dispensing device, for installing, relocating, removing, or maintaining bulk LP-gas or fuel tanks, with the same 25-foot no-smoking buffer and pre-work inspection requirement.

Violations & Fines

Using or storing LP-gas without the required permit violates § 55.09 and falls under the general fire-code penalty in § 55.05: a misdemeanor, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense, on top of any order from the fire chief or DSI director to remove the equipment or correct the condition. Smoking within 25 feet of cylinders is a separate violation of the same section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to keep a propane tank at my house?
No, as long as it's a single-family home and the container holds 500 gallons of water capacity or less: that's exempt from the operational permit requirement under § 55.09(a)(1). Larger residential tanks or any commercial storage still need a DSI permit.
What if I want to use a propane heater at an outdoor event?
The vendor or event sponsor must get a temporary LP-gas permit from DSI before the gas is delivered, stored or used, and pass an on-site inspection first; fees run $140 to $252 depending on how many cylinders are involved, under § 55.09(f)-(g).
How close can people smoke to a propane cylinder?
Not within 25 feet, § 55.09(e) bans smoking within twenty-five feet of any liquid petroleum gas cylinder, whether it's a temporary event setup, a residential tank, or a permitted bulk storage installation under § 55.10, and DSI can enforce the buffer during any on-site inspection.
Is there a separate permit for big underground or bulk LP-gas tanks?
Yes, § 55.10 covers installing, relocating, removing or maintaining aboveground and belowground hazardous-materials tanks and dispensing devices, with fees of $224 for the first tank, $81 for each additional tank, and $56 per dispensing device.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Saint Paul

Fire Pits & Backyard FiresSome RestrictionsSmoke DetectorsSome RestrictionsOutdoor BurningHeavy RestrictionsFireworksSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Store RulesHeavy RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Saint Paul rules

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